Oh Cedarville 4-12-10

Oh Cedarville...Your Call Fulfill... ;-)

As many of you know, Jonathan and I planned a quick getaway weekend to our alma mater...Cedarville University. Sounds a little nerdy, most likely, if you are unfamiliar with Cedarville and all that comes with it. I mean, who goes to their old college to reconnect and have a romantic getaway? A college instructor? Maybe  See, Jon and I met down there in that tiny town of Ohio. He used to take me on the most fun dates...and we lived life down there for 4 years, including our first year of marriage. In many ways, my life began in Cedarville. My life here in MI and the people who made it what it was, was a wonderful foundation and Cedarville was the launch pad, in many ways. So anyway...we wanted to go back down there and go to all of our old haunts...do the things we used to do when we were dating and falling in love. Perfect idea, with a not-so-perfect execution, but perfect ending. Let me explain...

We were supposed to leave Thursday night (my b-day) for Ohio. When I got Noah up from his nap he said his belly hurt. He wouldn't eat dinner...and I knew he was sick. My mom fairly pushed me out of the house, and about ten minutes later, Noah puked. Phew...just in time. Well the kids were staying with my cousin, Jess for the first time for a whole weekend. I had promised her no puke. I didn't' pull through. I was a ball of anxiety on the way down to Ohio and wondered why EVERY time we do something the kids get sick. January, Landon got food poisoned...last Sept when I went to Nashville all three men in my family got sick...when I went to Maine for a wedding Landon had an ear infection...I could go on and on. It seems like every time Jon and I try to do anything alone we are sabotaged...usually by sickness, but sometimes by pianos falling out of the sky. I jest...sort of.

Jonathan convinced me the kids would be fine and we kept going. I called regularly...poor Jess. She is amazing. I love that she knows me so well that she told me to wipe the anxiety off my face when she had to tell me Noah threw up again. I had the look on my face...and I tried my best to wipe it off at her command. Anyway, we arrived down there around midnight...but I had forgotten to print off the code to Dr. Tse's garage (we stayed with my favorite professor and his wife). We couldn't wake them and there is no free wi-fi in Cedarville, OH. So I had Jon drop me off at a freshman dorm, found someone with a laptop and explained why I needed to check my facebook account. She looked at me sideways...but obliged and off we went with code in hand .

We got up early Friday morning and went to my favorite counseling class in the new building...awesome, by the way. Then we went on to chapel and as I gazed around I couldn't help but feel that it was all very much the same...just different people. With every step around campus a million memories hit me like a ton of bricks. We laughed as we shared story after story with each other. With each new building I felt as though my friends would be right around the corner...as good and as much fun as we had...being there made me miss my college friends so much that it almost hurt. It is difficult to know that we will never all be together again...but I am so unbelievably thankful for the time we had and the memories we made and the friendships we still carry...even though we are dispersed around the country now. Jon and I also went by our old apartment...our first one that we shared after we got married. Looks exactly the same. We even went in and saw the huge dents in the wall we put in when we tried to move our couch up the stairs...still haven't been fixed  I love how nearly everything stays the same down there and yet it is all beautiful and homey and comfy.

So...I will stop being all nostalgic. We even ate in Chucks (the cafeteria) bc we got some free meal passes for being alumni. I decided to eat the same yummy salad dressing I used to eat every day in college. Except that I forgot that I have developed an egg yolk allergy SINCE college and that salad dressing apparently is laced with yolks. About 20 minutes after eating it, when Jon was up getting an ice cream cone, I started feeling it. At first I felt hot, then my face started flushing, then I felt like I couldn't breathe. I thought I was having a panic attack but then realized exactly what was happening so I tried to get out. I made it just outside the cafeteria where I hit the ground bc I was as bout .5 seconds from passing out. I put my head bt my legs and just sat. But I knew I was going to fall off the bench, so I laid down...right there in front of Chucks. It was either that or fall off the bench bc I passed out. I was MORTIFIED. Jon finally came out (I had left him in there alone and didn't even have a chance to tell him what was going on). I told him I either needed air or a bathroom...he started helping me towards a door and then it hit me that I needed a bathroom...ASAP. No more yummy salad dressing for me. I nearly died.

I recovered about an hour later and we went off to the Gorge. We hiked and talked and kissed and reminisced  That night Dr. Tse and Linda made us an authentic Chinese dinner, with THREE main courses. AMAZING. We sat and talked with them until 1am. I think this was one of the most fulfilling times of our trip. Their wisdom and character and insight into many issues in our lives was beautiful and uplifting and helpful on so many levels. We don't have anyone in our life to ask the hard questions to...so we pummeled them into the wee hours of morning and walked away feeling refreshed and challenged and encouraged.

Saturday we went to Clifton Mill to eat blueberry pancakes...I had forgotten how absolutely amazing they were. I won't forget again...they were unforgettable! It was a gorgeous day so we went to John Bryan and hiked all of our old favorite trails (and make out spots...HA!). We hunted for the spot that we kissed for the first time at, but I think the river was higher than it was back then bc while we know we were close, we couldn't find the exact spot. We had lots of good conversations and breathed in the beautiful spring air and beauty.

I met a few friends that afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them. Becky, Mary and Missy...THANK YOU for coming! I got to see new babies and reminisce with Becky about the old, old days. FUN times.

From there Jonathan and I went and ate at Colonials. We had the breadsticks (which taste exactly the same BTW) and a small pizza...and he had to have one of their subs. It was the same old Colonials...so quaint and homey and it was a beautiful spring day so the windows were open. Ah...anyway...we went on to Beavercreek from there and went by some of our old favorite spots. Jonathan was actually still able to make it there the back way through the hills...crazy how memory works.

Sunday morning Luke and Linda made us a yummy breakfast and we lost track of time talking with them, until almost 1pm. We were supposed to leave around noon..oops. We left Cedarville feeling refreshed and uplifted and encouraged. I am so unbelievably thankful for my time there...for what was taught to me, for the freedom to find myself, for the memories that can still make me laugh so hard I could cry (and even as I say that so many faces and experiences flash through my mind), for God laying the crazy course of events that lead to Jonathan and I meeting and dating and eventually marrying. For all of it. We are so thankful.